KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi delivered a memorable performance in Argentina’s World Cup opener on Tuesday, scoring a hat trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria and drawing level with the tournament career goals record held by Miroslav Klose.
The three-time defending world champions began their campaign with a convincing win as Messi found the net three times, moving his World Cup tally to 16 goals across six tournament appearances. The achievement placed him alongside Klose atop the competition’s all-time scoring list.
Following his opening goal, an emotional Messi was seen wiping tears from his eyes before continuing a dominant display that silenced any lingering concerns about a hamstring issue that had limited him in the lead-up to the tournament.
“My tears after the first goal? I’ve had some tough days. It wasn’t related to football,” Messi said after the match. “I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me.”
Messi Delivers in World Cup Opener
Messi opened the scoring in the early stages after connecting with a pass from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. He added a second goal from a rebound shortly after halftime before completing his hat trick with a clinical finish before leaving the field to a standing ovation.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his captain’s influence following the victory.
“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible,” Scaloni said.
The match was played before a crowd of 69,045 spectators in Kansas City, where Argentina supporters heavily outnumbered their Algerian counterparts.
Historic Milestone Reached Two Decades After Debut
The performance came exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which he also scored.
According to the supplied match information, Messi became only the second player to score in five editions of the World Cup. The hat trick was the 61st of his professional career, his 11th for Argentina, and his first in World Cup competition.
The Argentina captain has now scored in five consecutive World Cup matches and appears well positioned to move beyond Klose’s mark as the tournament progresses.
“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way,” Messi said. “What I’m living through now is the cherry on top.”
Other Stars Shine on Busy World Cup Day
Messi’s performance came on a day that also featured strong displays from other international stars.
Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal, while Erling Haaland netted two goals in Norway’s 4-1 win against Iraq.
Haaland reacted to Messi’s display on social media, writing: “Messi is a madman.”
Argentina Relies on Veteran Leader
Messi entered the tournament after dealing with a minor hamstring injury while playing for Inter Miami. However, he showed no visible limitations during Argentina’s opening match.
The appearance also marked the 200th international match of Messi’s career since making his senior debut in 2005.
“Fortunately, I’m doing well, and today we managed to win a tough match,” Messi said. “It’s important to start the tournament with a victory in the first game.”
Argentina’s strong opening result gives the defending champions momentum as they continue their pursuit of another World Cup title, while Messi’s record-tying performance adds another milestone to one of football’s most decorated careers.
Tags: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Algeria, FIFA World Cup, Miroslav Klose, Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Scaloni, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Kansas City
